Dogo Park: Hikari no Mi 2026 Dates TBA
道後公園 ひかりの実 — Matsuyama, Ehime (Shikoku)
- Season
- Dates TBA (usually: mid-December to mid-January)
- Venue
- Dogo Park (道後公園)
- Official site
- hikarino-mi.jp
Dogo Park's trees are hung with hundreds of glowing paper 'fruit' lanterns for Hikari no Mi ('fruit of light'), a participatory art piece where visitors draw a loved one's smiling face on a lantern before it's added to the display.
Background
Created by artist Kyota Takahashi, the installation launched to mark the reopening of the fully restored Dogo Onsen Honkan bathhouse, and has continued as an annual winter fixture in the park beside it.
Getting there
Dogo Park is directly behind Dogo Onsen Honkan, a 5-minute walk from the Dogo-Onsen tram terminus (Iyotetsu Dogo Line) from central Matsuyama.
Tips
- Because each lantern is hand-drawn by a visitor, the piece changes throughout the season as more are added — an early versus late visit can look noticeably different.
- Pair the visit with Dogo Onsen itself, one of Japan's oldest hot spring bathhouses, right next to the park.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Dogo Park: Hikari no Mi illuminated?
- Dogo Park: Hikari no Mi is typically lit up from Dec 19 – Jan 18. Exact dates shift year to year, so check the official site close to your trip.
- Where is Dogo Park: Hikari no Mi, and how do you get there?
- Dogo Park: Hikari no Mi is located at Dogo Park in Matsuyama, Ehime. Dogo Park is directly behind Dogo Onsen Honkan, a 5-minute walk from the Dogo-Onsen tram terminus (Iyotetsu Dogo Line) from central Matsuyama.
- Is Dogo Park: Hikari no Mi free to visit, or do I need tickets?
- Many Japanese winter illuminations are free to walk through, though some botanical gardens, theme parks and zoos charge admission (sometimes a separate night-illumination ticket). Check the official site for this location's exact pricing.
Last verified against the official source: Sun, August 2, 2026
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